BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC) MUST HAVE OBSERVERS!
The Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) has mandated, among others, the creation of BAC with observers from the civil society, non-government, and peoples organizations. It also required the posting of the notices related to bids and awards in the PHILGEPS, a web portal for all government procurement transactions. Unfortunately, this is not consciously observed by many local government units and government agencies.
The initiative of the Procurement Watch Inc. to network with other organizations nationwide and train BAC observers to be effective in their mandates is a welcome initiative. The Naga City Peoples Council and PWI had trained and deployed observers in the BACs of several agencies and LGUs in the province since October of this year.
There is now a clamour for more organized network of trained and accredited observers that will provide institutional support for observers, including legal assistance in cases of anomalies and irregularities in the bidding process.